Bill Thorness, Neighbor

<strong>Work background:</strong>

I&#39;ve been a writer and editor in Seattle since 1985, and have worked on all types of publications. I&#39;ve been a freelance writer covering lifestyle topics since 2002.

Along with biking, I write about gardening, local agriculture and green living. I also write about business, primarily healthcare and insurance.

I&#39;m the author of two books, Biking Puget Sound: 50 Rides from Olympia to the San Juans (Mountaineers Books, 2007) and Edible Heirlooms: Heritage Vegetables for the Maritime Garden (Skipstone Press, 2009). See more about the books at my website, www.billthorness.com.

I also teach editing for the University of Washington&#39;s Certificate in Editing program, part of the Professional and Continuing Education division. I teach Advanced Editing, Microsoft Word for Editors and Corporate Communications.

<strong>Community Involvement:</strong>

I am an active member of the Cascade Bicycle Club, Seattle Tilth, Plant Amnesty, and P-Patch. I lead rides for the bike club, and for the last few years I&#39;ve been editor of Tilth&#39;s publications. I also teach gardening classes occasionally for Tilth.

I volunteer for 826 Seattle, the non-profit youth literacy center in Seattle&#39;s Greenwood neighborhood. We teach writing to students aged 6-18 and publish their work. Since 826 opened its doors in 2005 (behind the quirky store Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co.), we have published 14 volumes of student writing. I have had the pleasure of tutoring students, editing their work, and being project manager for the publication of many of those books.

<strong>Interests:</strong>

Biking - of course! Mostly road riding, but I like a nice trail through the woods too.

Gardening - mostly food, vegetables and fruit. Not lawn mowing.

Skiing, hiking, travel, photography, attending arts events.

<strong>Background:</strong>

I&#39;m from North Dakota, but a branch of our family had lived in the Puget Sound area for many years. My grandparents migrated out to Tacoma in the 1960s, and then to the Olympic Peninsula.